Encased

Encased is a turn-based, post-apocalyptic role-playing game set in a sci-fi world where players explore a mysterious city, uncovering secrets and surviving in a harsh environment. The game offers a blend of exploration, combat, and decision-making, with a strong emphasis on storytelling and character development. Players can choose from various backgrounds and make dialogue choices that impact the game’s outcome, providing high replay value.

Encased: A Sci-Fi Post-Apocalyptic RPG Review

Introduction

In the pantheon of post-apocalyptic RPGs, Encased carves out a distinct niche. Developed by Dark Crystal Games and released in 2021, this love letter to classics like Fallout and Wasteland blends Soviet-era sci-fi mystique with taut player-driven storytelling. Set in an alternate 1970s where a colossal alien structure—the Dome—imprisons humanity in a techno-dystopian sandbox, Encased channels the existential dread of Roadside Picnic while offering a labyrinth of choices. This review argues that while Encased stumbles under the weight of its ambitions, its world-building and narrative flexibility cement its place as a compelling, if flawed, entry in the CRPG revival.

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Development History & Context

Encased emerged from the creative crucible of Dark Crystal Games, a Russian studio founded in 2017 by veterans of Divinity: Original Sin 2. The team sought to resurrect the spirit of early Fallout games, leveraging crowdfunding via a 2018 Kickstarter campaign that raised €105,745. Published by Koch Media’s Prime Matter label, the game entered Early Access in 2019, allowing iterative refinements based on community feedback.

The developers faced significant challenges: balancing modular storytelling with technical constraints of the Unity engine, and delivering a retro-futuristic aesthetic on a modest budget. Released amid a crowded CRPG renaissance (Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, Atom RPG), Encased aimed to distinguish itself through its alternate-history premise and systemic reactivity. Yet, as revealed in interviews, scope creep and the complexities of faction-driven narratives tested the team’s resolve, culminating in a delayed but polished final release.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

The game’s plot centers on the Dome, a Forefather-built megastructure discovered in 1971 that halts Cold War tensions by uniting global powers under the CRONUS Corporation. Players assume the role of a prospector thrust into chaos when the Dome’s AI guardian, the Maelstrom, awakens, transforming the environment into a feral wasteland. The narrative unfolds across three acts, chronicling the collapse of CRONUS’ utopian facade and the rise of factions like the militaristic New Committee and anarchic Popinjays.

Themes of entrapment and hubris dominate. The Dome symbolizes humanity’s futile grasp at alien transcendence, its anomalies warping both landscape and psyche. Dialogue choices reflect the game’s commitment to moral ambiguity: aiding the Silver Wing’s technocratic elitism might secure advanced gear but alienate the downtrodden Orange Wing convicts. Companions like Yoko, a robotic sniper with a tragic backstory, add emotional weight, though their arcs often feel underdeveloped.

While the early-game writing crackles with wit and political satire (e.g., bureaucratic quests mocking corporate ineptitude), the latter acts suffer from pacing issues, relying on fetch quests to pad runtime. Yet, Encased redeems itself with 12 distinct endings, each shaped by faction alliances, artifact usage, and ethical decisions—a testament to its systemic ambition.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Encased adopts a familiar yet dense framework:
– Character Creation: Players choose from five CRONUS “Wings” (e.g., combat-focused Black Wing, psi-op Silver Wing), each granting unique perks and dialogue options. Attributes like Psyche and Deftness feed into skill trees for combat (Light Weapons, Psionics) and exploration (Survival, Tech).
– Turn-Based Combat: Grid-based battles emphasize positioning and action-point management. Environmental hazards—radiation pools, malfunctioning drones—add tactical depth, though enemy AI often feels predictable.
– Survival Systems: Hunger, fatigue, and radiation demand constant resource management, evoking STALKER’s oppressive atmosphere. However, these mechanics occasionally veer into tedium, punishing exploration rather than enriching it.

The game’s crafting and reputation systems shine. Upgrading relics (alien artifacts with randomized buffs) and negotiating faction favorability reward creativity, though UI clunkiness (e.g., unwieldy inventory sorting) mars the experience. Companions, while mechanically useful, lack the narrative depth of peers like Baldur’s Gate 3, reducing emotional investment.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Encased’s retro-futuristic aesthetic channels 1970s sci-fi pulp, blending Brutalist architecture with rusted salvage. The Dome’s zones—from the neon-lit Carmine Heights to the desolate Nashville facility—feel handcrafted, though asset reuse becomes noticeable in later areas. The isometric perspective, while functional, occasionally obscures interactables, demanding pixel-hunting.

Sound design is a highlight. Composer Vasily Kashnikov’s synth-heavy score oscillates between haunting ambience and pulsating tension, evoking Blade Runner’s melancholic futurism. Voice acting, though limited to key scenes, delivers gravitas, particularly in Silver Wing leaders’ calculated monotones.

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Reception & Legacy

Upon release, Encased earned a Metascore of 73, praised for its reactive storytelling but criticized for janky combat and technical bugs. PC Invasion lauded it as “one of the most ambitious CRPGs in years,” while Eurogamer Italia noted its “old-school charm” but “uneven execution.” Commercial performance was modest, with estimated sales of 50,000–200,000 units—a respectable showing for a niche title.

Its legacy lies in bridging classic and modern RPG sensibilities. While overshadowed by giants like Disco Elysium, Encased influenced indie successors (Colony Ship) by proving that Soviet sci-fi and systemic choice remain fertile ground. Post-launch updates addressed stability, though promised DLC never materialized, leaving narrative threads dangling.

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Conclusion

Encased is a flawed gem—a game of staggering ambition hamstrung by budgetary and technical limitations. Its richly imagined world, faction intrigue, and道德 complexity will captivate patient players, while its mechanical rough edges may frustrate those seeking polish. For historians, Encased exemplifies the CRPG revival’s tensions: a yearning for nostalgic depth clashing with modern design expectations. It may not ascend to the pantheon of genre greats, but as a tribute to Fallout’s spirit and a daring experiment in dystopian storytelling, Encased deserves recognition—and perhaps a cult following.

Final Verdict: 7.5/10 – A compelling, uneven odyssey for CRPG devotees, best enjoyed with tempered expectations.